Space Telescope From Canada: To Takeoff Soon
NEOSSat (Near-Earth Object Space Surveillance Satellite), Canada's newest space telescope is nearing its launch to the outer space. The launching will take place on Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), being the world's first space telescope designed specifically to detect and track asteroids and satellites.
The said satellite, NEOSSat will "circle the globe every 100 minutes at an altitude of approximately 497 miles above the Earth," according to Satellite Today. Without the limitation of night and day cycle, the satellite is able to continuously scan a region near the Sun in search for asteroids that may someday pass near the Earth. Also, NEOSSat will monitor operating and dead satellites. Orbital debris will be monitored as well, as part of Defense Research and Development Canada's (DRDC) High Earth Orbit Surveillance System (HEOSS) project.
The fact that NEOSSat will be situated above clouds, it will not be constrained by geographic locations, time, or weather in its quest to detect asteroids and satellites unlike ground-based telescopes.
The spacecraft is scheduled to launch to takeoff on February 11.
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